Report card: Falcons grades for loss to chatty Panthers
CHARLOTTE — Here are the Falcons’ grades for the 30-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at the Bank of America Stadium.
GAME BALL: None awarded this week.
F — Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan’s numbers don’t look bad, but most of the action came after the offense contributed to digging the 23-0 hole by doing much of nothing on their first three possessions. He completed 34 of 49 passes for 342 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He had a passer rating of 94.1. The Falcons were 2 of 8 (25 percent) on third down conversions. That’s 3 of 19 (15.7 percent) over the last two games.
F — Running backs: Michael Turner had seven carries for 14 yards. Rodgers had 21 yards on four carries. After falling behind, the Falcons had to move away from the running game. Turner added a late rushing touchdown and has one in each of the last four games. He has eight rushing touchdowns this season.
F — Receivers: Roddy White had nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Julio Jones needs three more yards to eclipse 1,000 for the season. White’s 4-yard touchdown was his 50th career receiving touchdown. He is one of three wide receivers in team history to record 50 career touchdown receptions, joining WR Terance Mathis (57) and Andre Rison (56).
F — Offensive line: Ryan was sacked twice and hit six times.
F — Defensive line: Defensive tackle Corey Peters had one of the few pressures on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, but he got away. Vance Walker had the team’s only sack. There were three other hits on Newton. Walker’s sack was his third of the season which ranks tied for third on the team this season behind defensive end John Abraham (10.0) and defensive end/tackle Jonathan Babineaux (3.5).
F — Linebackers: The Panthers rushed for 195 yards on 32 carries. The Panthers rushed for 199 yards in the previous meeting. The Falcons need to figure out how to stop read-option quarterbacks. They could see Robert Griffin III again or San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick in the playoffs. Stephen Nicholas led the Falcons with nine tackles. Also, the problem against screens reared its ugly head on DeAnglo Williams’ 53-yard touchdown play. (See Carolina and Chicago games from 2011.)
F — Defensive backs: Steve Smith got loose for seven catches and 109 yards. Greg Olsen made a nice grab on his touchdown catch. Chris Hope made his first start as a Falcon and finished with two tackles.
F — Special teams: Why is the kicker out smack talking?
F — Coaching: Either the Falcons weren’t ready to play or they just got rolled.
NEXT UP: The Falcons (11-2) face the New York Football Giants (8-5) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
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131 comments Add your comment
1 and done
December 10th, 2012
12:58 pm
Hi Matty Ice, its me destiny. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.
Bronkelliott
December 10th, 2012
1:09 pm
Agree with the F rating all around. The Falcons play scared with no killer instinct. They have no running game and the defense is porous. Need a miracle for team to turn around. This is why they get no respect around the league. Matt Ryan needs to learn to scramble, he is not that old that he can’t learn to run when necessary. Good wake up call to get horse whipped by wimpy Carolina. Better look head and see the truck that is rolling in with the N Y Giants. Go Falcons and man up!
Season Ticket Holder
December 10th, 2012
1:13 pm
These are generous grades. The Offense (QB., RB, O.Line) deserves an F minus.
Falconut
December 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
The grades look spot on for yesterday’s performance or lack of. I’d really like to see a full game out of this group. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one of them. Probably the Eagles game in October or the Chargers back in September.
Both sides of the ball were reponsible, the offense couldn’t do anything early and the defense coudn’t stop anything. Mike you need to get these guys in shape for the Giants. If not, home field might slip away by the end of the season. But, at least they’re already in the playoffs, so let’s just figure things out and win.
Willie Coyote
December 10th, 2012
1:15 pm
We score when we run the no huddle…we just never run it. It is truly baffling that Smitty refuses to do what so OBVIOUSLY works on offense.
The O-Line needs an upgrade.
Defensively, we are a D-lineman and a linebacker away from being something to reckon with. Of course, that wasn’t apparent Sunday because it looked like we needed a lot more than that.
11-2 isn’t bad but these weaknesses need to be addressed. We get some guys back on D and that will help us improve. The offense needs to go up-tempo for most of the game to have success. Running #32 between the tackles is not working.
Falconut
December 10th, 2012
1:16 pm
Oh, forgot to mention, Turner needs to start backing up Rodgers. It’s become a waste of a down.
Starship 1
December 10th, 2012
1:17 pm
I don’t want to be the that say it, but Falcons lose to the G-Men next Sunday. Don’t act like you didn’t know it was coming. Just sayin. Look at what the G-Men did to N.O.-and we think that we are much better than N.O.? just sayin…
Starship 1
December 10th, 2012
1:21 pm
Smitty keeps saying that “we’ll learn from this and we’ll learn from that” How long has he been saying this? It’s time for Arther and Demetrius to make player personnel changes just like they did when they let loose (can’t even remember his name). Let them young boys play and rest your starters. They’ll play with much more motivation against non-playoffs teams you just don’t want to play.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
1:26 pm
F — Special teams: Why is the kicker out smack talking?
Is that the best you can come up with to give the special teams and “F”? Because the kicker responded to being mocked? Was Matt given an “F” for the comment he made after the first game against the Panthers? Special teams didn’t have a chance to contribute to this embarrassing lost.
Roundabout
December 10th, 2012
1:27 pm
Too bad F is the lowest score, they deserve lower. The whole team should be on the “Did Not Participate list”. If they take this mess into the playoffs it’ll be another one and out.
@a566377
December 10th, 2012
1:28 pm
LOLOL. Horse whipped by wimpy Carolina. You should’ve said horse whipped by wimpy Carolina twice. That’s only untrue due to one of many pull out of your a$$ last-second drives. Ask yourself this, can you rely on another Ryan prayer in the playoffs?
Larry
December 10th, 2012
1:29 pm
Coach Smith,
Rather than “we will learn from this” or “we will review the game film and adjust accordingly,” how about some proactive anticipation?
Anticipating what your opponent will do and what yo should do to counter it ir you’er correct is good game planning….proactively!
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
1:30 pm
Starship 1
December 10th, 2012
1:21 pm
Smitty keeps saying that “we’ll learn from this and we’ll learn from that” How long has he been saying this?
Forever! Along with the words “process”, “resilent”, “it’s fixable”, blah, blah, blah
falconsrus
December 10th, 2012
1:30 pm
We may now be Giant killers I’m up for it what say ye fellow Falcon fans?
Larry
December 10th, 2012
1:32 pm
Mr. Ledbetter,
Will you please ask one simple question of the Falcons?
“Where is the vertical passing game that was promised with the addition of Dirk Koetter?”
This team the past 4-5 weeks have looked totally Mularkian!
abby normal
December 10th, 2012
1:33 pm
Straight F’s across the board!! That’s worse than my fifth grade report card. Any player or coach who accepts a paycheck for that game should be wearing a mask because they are sure as hell stealing.
Season Ticket Holder
December 10th, 2012
1:39 pm
On Saturday, I received my playoff tickets invoice from the Falcons. The option are to buy tickets for all post season games or pay as they play. After yesterday’s performance, I will pass on the playoff tickets. Its beginning to look like one game and done!
True American Hero
December 10th, 2012
1:39 pm
You fans make me laugh. It is what it is. Let me ask you FALCONS FANS, do you really think they WANTED to lose to Carolina? Any given Sunday Folks. Any team can beat any team. Ask those Giants since they lost to um….Cincinnati, Dallas, and Philly. All games they should have won. So, it happens. We may not win the Super Bowl or even our first playoff game, but give the team their due, the play hard and try. I know, watched them fight Sunday, the other team was just better that particular day.
d
December 10th, 2012
1:41 pm
They played terrible. Could stand to get that starting secondary back and healthy. Looked worse than the 10 point loss that it was. 11-2 aint so bad compared to 5-8.
big fat F's across the board
December 10th, 2012
1:42 pm
The New York Football Giants are 3-3 in road games
coming to the Georgia Dome where the Falcons are 6-0.
I hope Coach Smitty has them ready this time.
insider
December 10th, 2012
1:45 pm
Meanwhile Bobby Petrino has been hired by Western Kentucky.
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
Somebody could make a fortune starting up a company that sells “sized” brown kraft paper sacks.
Hey DLed, how bout a shout out to Robert McClain, led the team with 7 tackles and has really been playing huge.
dan
December 10th, 2012
1:48 pm
C’mon D-Led, you can’t be that surprised by this loss. The Panthers might not be good this year, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have talent on offense. Cam, Williams, Steve Smith, Greg Olson…those aren’t bad players. They’re certainly capable of pulling off a win over a good opponent, especially over a division foe who they know well. The Panthers usually play us tough, and yesteday they were just due. I remember years when we had bad teams, and they had good ones, we still won. Its the NFL,it happens. Its not something we need to make a habit out of, but its not something we need to over analyze to death either. We have weak spots, but so do the Giants,49ers, Packers, Bear etc. We’re in as good of shape as anyone else, so lets not get all Chicken Little just yet. Birds 11-2, Panthers 4-9. Moving on…
Dawglasville
December 10th, 2012
1:50 pm
F grade, absolutely.
That said, no team in the NFC has stepped up and seperated themselves. I doubt that the fans of other teams have the razor to the wrist like some of our fans do.
Whadda Ya Know?
December 10th, 2012
1:56 pm
The Falcons are led by a soft, controlling leader (Smitty). Take the reigns off this team and let the coordinators call the offense and defensive plays. This team has some serious issues that have been masked for too long during this season. The Panthers are only the beginning of this team’s exposed weaknesses. Coaching is a major problem and should receive a G for Get out of Town.
JB65
December 10th, 2012
1:57 pm
When the Falcons lose in the play-offs, Arthur Blank must ask himself this question: What’s next? He needs to determine whether Mike Smith should remain as head coach of the Falcons. The team hired two new coordinators (Nolan and Koetter), but the end result has remained the same. A lackluster offensive and a defense that plays inconsistently(partly due to injuries to key players).
If Mike returns next season, will the team improve, or remain the same(winning during the regular season, and later losing during the play-offs). Fans want nothing but the best for this team and the city, but is ….Mike Smith the best coach that can take this team to the Super Bowl and win it?
T
December 10th, 2012
1:58 pm
THEY GOT ROLLED
after further review
December 10th, 2012
2:01 pm
….. the Falcons do get an A+ for the 11-2 overall season.
Falcons 11-2 (two F’s)
49er’s 9-3-1 (three and a half F’s)
Packers 9-4 (four F’s)
Giants 8-5 (five F’s)
Me Too
December 10th, 2012
2:02 pm
I’m not sure Rogers got an F and I don’t think Turner gets any points for scoring the touchdown. It certainly wasn’t him who had anything to do with getting to the one yard line.
KBP
December 10th, 2012
2:02 pm
How is it that we are still so bad against the run?
How is it that our o-line is still below average?
If we play the Giants or the 49′ers in the 2nd round of the playoffs we are done if we can’t block them and at least slow down their running game. Would rather play Packers because they can’t run the ball. I’ll like our chances against them if they have to pass 50 times. A. Rodgers is not “on” like he was in 2010.
Turner is no longer a good fit for this offense. J Rodgers is not a 3-down back. He is not MJD or Ray Rice.
Dimitroff- Julio, Matt, Sean, were obvious picks. Get the good players who are not obvious. McClain is a good pickup but we need help on o-line, d-line, and running back. And yes, I have written this year off because I have no confidence in our run defense nor running game. We lose most of the time when Matt has to throw 50+ times.
Jamie
December 10th, 2012
2:04 pm
SAD
atlantaborn
December 10th, 2012
2:07 pm
WOW…11-2 and we have all of these negative comments….where are you fans from? This is a good team…..would you rather be 8-5 like the Giants, I just do not understand? Cam Newton had a good day and we had a two point conversion taken from us….could have made a difference…..
Jack Wood
December 10th, 2012
2:08 pm
I’ll be glad when the Falcons get some professional football players to fill offensive line positions. Matt Ryan is the most courageous man in football for even lining up behind our current imposters.
Starship 1
December 10th, 2012
2:10 pm
It’s really a variety of so many distractions that this team has lost it’s focus. We all want to see that “big” or “perfect” all around game from the Falcons-and we know that they are capable of it. We gotta stop it. Now-I enjoy D-Block just like the rest of them, but how about stop talking-period. Arther Blank need to put out a gag order until the tropgy is won and in their hands.
MaxxFalcon
December 10th, 2012
2:15 pm
Thank you atlantaborn. The same folks jumping off the bandwagon are the same folks who just jumped on. Who cares. Falcons obviously were not motivated to play yesterday, as Asante dressed and did not play. That should tell you everything. If the Falcons wanted this game badly, Asante and probably WillyMo would have played. This next game is a must-win, we could springboard into the playoffs with a good W Sunday
Samuel
December 10th, 2012
2:21 pm
I think this team wanted to make sure they are in the playoffs. Now that has happen, it seems the Falcons are taking plays off- until the playoffs. Way too many mental lapses from game to game. The giants will be a big test for this team. Mainly because they punked us in that last playoff game.
Peyton
December 10th, 2012
2:28 pm
That’s a sign of a great football team. When you can get all Fs at every position and still only lose by 10 on the road that is pretty impressive.
Buddy Landel
December 10th, 2012
2:29 pm
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
Somebody could make a fortune starting up a company that sells “sized” brown kraft paper sacks.
Hey DLed, how bout a shout out to Robert McClain, led the team with 7 tackles and has really been playing huge.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
With the exception of Carolina’s last TD where he made a futile tackle attempt.
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 10th, 2012
2:41 pm
Buddy Landel
December 10th, 2012
2:29 pm
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 10th, 2012
1:46 pm
Somebody could make a fortune starting up a company that sells “sized” brown kraft paper sacks.
Hey DLed, how bout a shout out to Robert McClain, led the team with 7 tackles and has really been playing huge.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
With the exception of Carolina’s last TD where he made a futile tackle attempt
**********************************************************************
Led the team in tackles and boy what a speciman, I’d love for him to have his way with me.
Wabe
December 10th, 2012
2:42 pm
what happened to D3’s blog…
Wabe
December 10th, 2012
2:51 pm
did they remove it from the falcons homepage because it gets the most traffic?
don’t get the ajc…
ATL Observer
December 10th, 2012
2:51 pm
Everything about the first half of this game was awful. Carolina should be ashamed of themselves that they weren’t winning by 24 or greater at the half. I’m glad the Falcons lost and wish it had been by more: they needed this wakeup call. If they kept playing bad games and winning them, it would have lulled them into a false sense of security. I’d rather they get smacked in the mouth now.
The NUMBER ONE problem is the complete inability to stop the run. If this isn’t corrected, there’s very few teams in the playoffs that the Falcons will match up well against. Let’s see, potential opposing running backs/tandems in the playoffs: Gore/Hunter, Lynch, Bradshaw/Wilson, Forte, Peterson (dear LORD that would be a disaster), Murray/Jones, Morris with RGIII behind him and the one team that doesn’t have a standout back is Green Bay but they have a QB that can run with the best of them.
Are you nervous yet?
Ryan was horrible on third down; resorted to the checkdown on plays that couldn’t possibly make up the yardage. I’d rather see an absolutely horrible pass downfield serve as a punt to see that over and over.
Receivers were terrible. When Ryan pulls out the big pass that could have turned the game around, Roddy’s falling flat on his face. Several passes off of the hands. Even Tony looked out of it. It was either receivers open with Ryan making bad passes, or Ryan making a good pass and the receiver botching it.
I have no idea why they wait so long to turn to the no-huddle, unless it’s because they’re trying not to put too much on film, or whatever crazy logic is going into that. Their success rate is obviously higher on the hurryup.
Michael Turner’s run (and it was a good one) is OVER. I’m not incredibly peeved YET at the underutilization of Jacquizz but come playoff time, whomever becomes the hotter hand on gameday needs to be the one carrying the rock. And that will be Quizz.
The NYG game will be crucial: nothing after that is a guarantee.
Elvis is Alive (but not feeling to good my friend)
December 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
Sorry —-3 first downs from 19 attempts for the last two games.
Make that 4 for 19 in the last two games.
Thank you D’Led for the correct information.
Here is what we continue to hear!
Coach says we’re a proud team.
MR2 says we have to improve.
TG says we have to turn it around.
None of these comments show me any humility.
“Proud” of being soundly beaten in all three phases of the game.
“Improve” over the past few weeks..well..duh
“Turn it around” without a doubt TG
No comments about game planning, play selection, or failure to catch and run back punts.
How about saying our game plan was wrong, we didn’t tackle because we went for the ‘Showboat” pick 6. We really don’t have a run back specialist.
And how about acknowledging that this”Team” is not really as good as we all would hope..
Agreed “F’s” to everyone.
Releasing Ray Edwards was meant as a signal. To whom? The fans?
Or to take the heat off the coaching staff for being a complacent,unimaginative group of almost winners trying to fool the owner and the public.
Showing a spine when it comes to making personnel decisions about the first string should be a priority at this point in the season. First string, not the 25th player.
Because someone used to be the No. 1 does not guarantee future Pro Bowl appearances.
Any player, for whatever reason, may falter and when that happens they have to be demoted or released.
Feelings, empathy and favortism aside, this is the NFL, not a High School program where the coaches favorites play regardless of the statistics.
Winning is an attitude and a process. Losing may build character and an individuals desire to improve.
Winners never quit and Quitters never Win!
The storybook of the Falcons this season fits the dynamic of the Little Engine that could,”I think I can ,I think I can”..
A losing team effort is not one player or even two players, and from what I have seen we are in deep trouble.
Our future story appears to be ,”I thought we could”, if only we had this defense or this player playing better. Or better play calling or a myriad of excuses.
The last two games were absurd efforts from our professional football athletes and coaching staff.
The end is near .
The end is near.
***Esquire how about some lyrics for “the end is near”
The end is near
the Falcons make it clear
they play for the check
missed a (insert one) tackle,pass,kick
what the heck
Practice goes great
games tossed to fate
Players can’t wait
Coach’s bloviate
Off to vacation
Season is over
we” catch the playoffs
from the bar on the corner
The end is near
No need to wait
Upcoming draft
we’ll pontificate
Our team needs
this that a such
coulda won the BIG one
but we don’t want it much
The end is near
and we’ll all cry
when it’s over
and if you’re a betting man
Don’t take the over
Rise up..angry FANS..rise up
Hawes
December 10th, 2012
2:58 pm
I get the rhetorical point about giving everyone Fs, but do the receivers really deserve an F? It’s not their fault the OL can’t give Ryan enough time and the OC keeps calling Turner up the middle.
retired
December 10th, 2012
3:08 pm
Enter your comments here
KBP
December 10th, 2012
3:12 pm
@Atlantaborn . . . Carolina was a 3-9 team and with having 10 days to prepare for them I don’t understand how our Falcons with so much to play for played so badly on both sides of the ball. The truth is not always positive in real life and the truth concerning this 2012 team, which may be the most talented in Falcons history, is that yesterday they were terrible in all phases including coaching. A loss like this would not surprise most anyone in week 1-6 maybe, but in week 12? I was definitely surprised and disappointed. Still a diehard fan but I no longer have the same expectation heading into the playoffs because of how we lost. If we had not gotten DOMINATED on both sides of the ball but still lost the game then my expectations would not have changed. Right now, I just don’t think our D&O line play is good enough to win in the playoffs against the 49′ers, Giants, and maybe even the Seahawks. Those teams have stout lines and running games and we don’t. I would put our receivers and passing game up against any in the league but our D&O line play is our achilles heel. However as they say, you still have to play the games and our Falcons have a chance come 1:00 Sunday to get it done against the Giants.
d
December 10th, 2012
3:19 pm
If Elvis were alive, he’d ask you to never try rhyming again.
retired
December 10th, 2012
3:20 pm
Take a deep breath everybody, (especially the fire Mike Smith crowd) Let’s get ready for the Giants and see what next week brings us. By this time tomorrow we will at worst have the 2nd best record in the NFL if not tied for the best. EVERY team has days it lays an egg. AND we haven’t lost to anyone outside the NFC south. Bring on the Giants and go from there if they do to us what they did to the Aints all you bandwagon jumpers can have a field day. But if we beat the Giants all you A__holes better come on board with your tails between you legs BEGGGIN for mercy. Simple as that . ps last time we fired a winning coach we paid for it. Keep building MS and TD what we have is better than what we HAD so keep up the good work. Enough of all the critics who think they know it all. Yes we have issues so does every team. RISE UP FALCONS PUT TOGETHER THAT ELUSIVE COMPLETE GAME ……. REAL FANS (short for fanatics) are behind this team 100%.
okeetee
December 10th, 2012
3:22 pm
We got beat badly but I don’t think every facet of our team deserved an F! Ryan should get a C as should the receivers. Running backs deserved an F and also the defensive line. Coaching? THAT needed a big fat F! We don’t seem to understand the need to set up the run with the pass in a passing league in which we have 3 great receivers and decent pass protection! Look, we are 11-2 but clearly what we have been doing on offense the last month is not working to well! An interception down field 50 yards is just as good as a punt!
retired
December 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
though I do miss Harvey Dahl
FactCheckk
December 10th, 2012
3:27 pm
More like “P” for pathetic. F is too high for yesterdays joke.
Denver Falcon
December 10th, 2012
3:38 pm
Coaching should get F—.
OL gets F–
thewholetruth
December 10th, 2012
3:39 pm
for all their effort this team is no drifferent than last year. Circumtance has let this team become 11-2 not talent. The G men will crush them at home, Suh will probably hurt Ryan and Tampa will whip up up on the rookie. They will loose in the first round having travel to a go to a good team. Season record 11- 5, loose in first round. Same Ole Same Ole
drewster
December 10th, 2012
3:42 pm
All I got to say is you play how you practice!! so what the hell were the falcons doing for ten days? Is this what’s gonna happen if the Falcons get a bye in the first round of the playoff’s . UH just like two years ago when we got b-slapped bye green bay ? That tell’s me the coaching staff doesn’t know how to keep a team focused with several day’s off.. so i got an idea why don’t ya’ll take three day’s off and come back wed and well skip around the field
holding hand’s for a few day’s before the next game!!!!!
Scott Pioli
December 10th, 2012
3:47 pm
This just in! Everyone thinks Tony G is still great. HIs Hands are great, but he is very slow and runs predictable routes An upgrade is needed badly. I may need a job next year, so I was hoping Diimitrof would find a place for me on his staff. What is this love affair with Turner? It took forever to dump Norwood, and the same goes with Turner. This guy should have been shown the door last year. Just like when Snelling tested the market, Not one darn team showed an interest in him nor would anyone had signed Turner.
Jerry Glanville's Beltbuckle
December 10th, 2012
4:05 pm
Dirk Koetter is completely in over his head, he calls safe, don’t want to loose plays. This is clearly one of, if not the BEST receiving groups in the league, we should be burning up scoreboard’s, just think what this same group would be with an aggressive, smart OC.
Quizz should be the starter for sure, it seems like they are scared to sit him, like he knows something on someone. geeeeezzzzz!!!!
This is getting truly embarrassing, I hate to admit it, but we could be 8-5 or worse, I had tremendous hope in the beginning of the season when we were throwing vertical, swarming the defense and in general just getting after it, it was a breath of fresh air.
There are no guarantees for getting back to this situation again, someone needs to step up (Mr. Blank, TD) and let these coaches know this is NOT going to be tolerated.
Heres hoping, LETS RISE UP!!!!
Birdman of Falcatraz
December 10th, 2012
4:06 pm
We need a player with the guts of Sean Williams from UGA to step up and call out his teammates for their complete lack of passion and guts. This team is all finesse, and when it gets ugly they cannot compete by throwing everything they got onto the field. Either their plan works to a T, or they fall apart when challenged. 11 times the plan has been good enough, twice we have played teams emotionally more in the game than us. The playoffs is where the emotions must be higher as teams are more evenly matched.
Jerry Glanville's Beltbuckle
December 10th, 2012
4:07 pm
Sry guys, I meant sit Turners pork chop self!
Big Ray
December 10th, 2012
4:08 pm
Retired – so if the Falcons continue to have successful regular seasons, and get stomped in the playoffs, you’ll be happy? As of right now, that’s where we are headed.
extremus
December 10th, 2012
4:08 pm
I must be getting caught in the spam filter, Mr. Ledbetter. Could you please check to see if my (lengthy) post is in there? Thanks in advance.
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 10th, 2012
4:12 pm
Big Ray
December 10th, 2012
4:08 pmRetired – so if the Falcons continue to have successful regular seasons, and get stomped in the playoffs, you’ll be happy? As of right now, that’s where we are headed.
****************************************************************
I’ll tell ya what would make me happy, getting reunited with my childhood idol, Jerry Sandusky.
nobody
December 10th, 2012
4:26 pm
pathetic….nothing ever changes in this organization….historically, they play no better than their opposition…and on some days, worse…especially when the opponent is equally pathetic…
Answer This
December 10th, 2012
4:30 pm
Wow DLed tell us how you really feel! Lol. Do you think they going to smile when they see you coming? I appreciate your honesty and thanks for holding them accountable! Now the question is will they read this and try to smash your laptop and show how angry they really are? DLed I so hope you stirred up a nest of Angry Birds and that they look at you with anger and they sit out to prove a point! I know that they may not but I think and hipe you called some folks out and that you stirred the pot to make the Nation Rise Up. Be angry birds be very angry and show DLed that his words hit home!
63-39-5
December 10th, 2012
4:56 pm
they never started the running game
Dan
December 10th, 2012
6:15 pm
Falcon offensive line hasn’t kept anyone out of backfield this year no reason to think all of a sudden they will stop Giants passrush. This team has been off in most of the games this year and anyone who knows a thing about football that if you can’t block you got no shot
michaelgee
December 10th, 2012
6:30 pm
Michael Turner is done. No Burst, no power, we need to draft a fleet power back.
dman55
December 10th, 2012
7:04 pm
I read several comments that generally support the falcons overall efforts this season It’s true, the birds are 11 wins and 2 losses. The truth of the matter is, they played 8 of those games well. Matt Ryan and the offense moved the ball with precision. The defense played lights out with intensity and imagination. That was against the “weak” part of the schedule. The past 5 games have have been another storey. All phases of the game have been going down like the Titanic. Games have been lost by the opponents, not won by the Falcons. Matt Ryan is throwing interceptions or throwing the ball inaccurtately. It seems to me he is playing scared. Throwing the ball in places that his receivers have to make almost miracle catches. The running game has been absent in 85% of the games. The line play is a major part of this along with a running back that seems to run with his eyes closed. How many times have you seen Michael Turner crash into a mass of bodies when there is a running lane 2 feet away. I was sceptical when the Howie Longs of the world didn’t recognize the Falcons progress. Now I know he was absolutely right. These Falcons are 1 and done in the playoffs. I feel very bad for Tony Gonzalez. You’re a damn good man Tony…the dirty birds don’t deserve you..go ahead and retire
R OReilly
December 10th, 2012
7:10 pm
Rather not play in the playoffs if we are going to play like we did against the Kittys.
jeff
December 10th, 2012
7:11 pm
Either you are a Falcon fan or not….. this scorecard and most of the comments are from fair weather fans. Look at the record this year and in the past years since Smith and Ryan came to Atlanta!!!!! just ignorant negative comments and ignorant scorecard. Any given Sunday.. any thing can happen but have faith they will get things together and will have both play off games played at home
One and done!
December 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
I can’t take this team anymore!!! They give me no hope for the playoffs…too many MAJOR problems all around, and not something you get fixed in Dec or Jan (despite what the coaches and players try to tell us). One thing is for sure, none of us can say, “we didn’t see it coming.”
Great Falconi
December 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
If I played for this team and read this horsebleep coming from a beat writer, I wouldn’t say a word to the guy. D-Led isn’t a fan. He’s not the fans’ representative. He’s a beat writer. He isn’t a columnist. He’s supposed to ask some questions and report on the team without pulling the jerk routine. If Schultz (and it would be Schultz and not Bradley) wants to go off on the Falcons, that’s perfectly fine and expected in a case like this. That ain’t D-Led’s job.
Booby Cox
December 10th, 2012
7:37 pm
Don’t worry Falcons! The Braves will make you look good in about 6 months…
ctfalconsfan
December 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
@Jeff.. I’m a true Falcon fan and while I think DOL’s scorecard is a little harsh what do you expect?
We looked terrible yesterday! The final score was much closer than the actual play on the field..
I think CAR scored on their first 4 or 5 possessions. Our offense was on the field then quickly back off the entire first half. I think we hade less than 20 yards of offense in the first half?!?!? crazy bad!!
Don’t get me wrong 11-2 is a GREAT record but as I’ve said all season I’d rather finish with a 4-0 record in DEC heading into the play-offs with momentum than a 8-0 to start the season in SEP/OCT.
t’s all in how you finish and we need to step!
GaDawgY'all
December 10th, 2012
7:38 pm
The Braves didn’t even MAKE the first round. At least the Falcons will have a bye week before they lose so we can say they made it farther than los bravos!
GaDawgY'all
December 10th, 2012
7:40 pm
The Falcons have looked weak all season against a lightweight schedule and some ‘barely” wins. Atlanta continues to be the best regular season town in America but playoffs….”PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?”
ctfalconsfan
December 10th, 2012
7:42 pm
Don’t bash DOL for the grades.
I want DOL asking tough questions and calling out players and coaches for poor play.
He’s not there to be a cheerleader for the team!!!
HeyNow
December 10th, 2012
7:43 pm
Report this comment. Please.
Right now...
December 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
…there is no guarantee that we will get the first round bye – we may lose on the “wild card” weekend, just like the past couple of years…
Nnless things get better, I see us no better than 12-4 (losses to NY and Detroit), with SF getting the home field for the playoffs at 12-3-1, and us losing the tiebreaker to GB for the other bye slot (I think) – then we will probably lose to Seattle in the first round…
TomBrady
December 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
No one on the Falcons is nearly as good looking as I am much less a playoff caliber player. Losers. Can’t get no ladies and can’t win in the post season.
TommyNobis
December 10th, 2012
7:47 pm
This team looks awful and scared. How DID they win even 11 games? Wow.
JJ
December 10th, 2012
7:54 pm
DOL, what happend to D3’s fan blog? No where on ajc site?
Sportaree
December 10th, 2012
8:02 pm
JJ, Wabe, Big Ray do any of you have any idea what happend to the Cage?
JJ
December 10th, 2012
8:06 pm
Sportaree,
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-fans/2012/12/09/atlanta-falcons-birds-embarrassed-by-panthers/?cp=8
TNScott
December 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
Our biggest failure was giving away the farm and rebuilding the Browns for Julio Jones followed by going cheap on the D-Line getting Ray Edwards instead of ponying up Julius Peppers. Falcons won’t be a championship team until the lines are upgraded on both sides of the ball. Falcons could easily one and done in the playoffs this year.
tmc
December 10th, 2012
9:01 pm
i would change them all to F-
chuck
December 10th, 2012
9:12 pm
I think Coach Smith is darn near a miracle worker for having this team at 11-2. For a playoff team, this team has a lot of holes. They need multiple offensive linemen, multiple defensive linemen, and a RB. The weakest part of the Atlanta team is their horrid offensive line. The problem is that the teams that make the playoffs will destroy the Atlanta OL. Case in point was last year’s first round playoff game that Ryan watched while laying on his back. The same guys that couldn’t block the Giants are back and history tells us they still won’t be able to protect Ryan in a first round playoff game. The question is what the Falcons think of Hawley and Holmes going forward. IF they think they can be the center and a tackle of the future then I would suggest that the future is getting very close.
Their almost equally horrible defensive line is also not of playoff quality. The top 12 or so teams will rush at will against these guys or have their QB stand back there and pick apart the Atlanta secondary.
The Falcons desperately need to address at least one of these weaknesses in free agency and then have an outstanding draft. They need all 7 or more picks in the next draft to make the team and several to be major contributors. Depending on Hawley and Holmes, the Falcons could use an almost all new OL except for Konz. The same goes for the DL. We really need to make Abraham a 3rd DE and bring him in on passing downs to extend his career. The silly trading away of draft picks in the past has come back to haunt this team.
vesaversa
December 10th, 2012
9:47 pm
We only need 1 win out of 3. I say continue playing vanilla and pack it in against the NYGs and rest the hurting starters. Play hard against the Lions to win. Pack it in against the Bucs. Home field advantage, didn’t show the Hartsfield D and rested starters. Aints and Cats watch us on TV win playoffs.
Joe 12-Pack
December 10th, 2012
9:57 pm
D-Led, I think you are being too nice.
gcs
December 10th, 2012
9:58 pm
This season is over. They may win the first round but it’s over after that.
Time to start molding a new QB to replace Mr. 3&out.
SOS
December 10th, 2012
10:05 pm
Smitty keeps saying that “we’ll learn from this and we’ll learn from that” How long has he been saying this?
Forever! Along with the words “process”, “resilent”, “it’s fixable”, blah, blah, blah
SOS
Rip
December 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
When you have a LONG HISTORYof letting fans down, it is hard to change and it will continue to come out.Yep I hear you, these fair weather fans, yea right, We know football and if you take the shades off and not down that last bud. you will be able to clearly see, this team has so many holes in it that you would need stone mountain to fill them. To bad your season ticket is only good for the first stop after that you will be at home with the rest of the ants fans, only they have a SB ring but the falcons have homers
Ms.Atl
December 10th, 2012
10:32 pm
I don’t know about y’all but I prefer for the falcons to get their butts whipped before the playoffs having already secured a spot and the division as opposed to barely squeaking by and not getting punched in the mouth. I think this is great for this team. To all you bandwagon fans please get real when was the last time the falcons have been 11-2. That butt whipping they took showed they can’t rest on their record and they must get better if they don’t want to be embarassed in the playoffs.
Michael M.
December 10th, 2012
11:09 pm
ha ha ha ha…………..D-Led ….you better hope the players don’t read this with all the F’s on it or they might get you……I like to fell out the chair laughing..F,F,F,F,F,F……… I thought they played better in the 2nd half but came out short at the end.
Why did it take them so long to get started ? I know , that gets a F too.
Michael M.
December 10th, 2012
11:12 pm
I got to hang with the Team……it is good for them to lose a few games now and get hot in the playoffs and hopefully D-Leds ” Grades ” will be A’s and maybe some B’s………………………………………..
Birdhouse
December 10th, 2012
11:13 pm
For some reason the offense started vanishing for entire quarters at a time. Sunday they were MIA for a whole HALF. What gives, is Mularky still here?
Michael M.
December 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
Absolutely nuts sometimes they are unstoppable and then sometimes they play like they are lost out there….puzzles me too !
Esquire
December 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
5-6-7-8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE???? GOOOOO FALCONS!!!!!!
WHERE’S MIKE’S COX????? I NEED IT BAD TONIGHT!!!! Please???
Michael M.
December 10th, 2012
11:32 pm
sending up smoke signals…………..lol……..
Michael M.
December 10th, 2012
11:35 pm
D-Led………………..when you see the players again you need to warn them that the Giants will be here Sunday and it would be good if they got out there on the football field and played hard for the full 60 minutes and tell them not to embarrass us ………………..lmao !
DR. FALCON
December 11th, 2012
12:29 am
YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK! WE’RE 11-2! LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STEELRS,AT HOME! LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HOUSTON TEXANS! WE HAVE A CAHNCE TO PAYBACK OUR NEMESIS: THE GIANTS! LEDBETTER, GIVING AN “F” ALL THE WAY AROUND, IS A COP OUT! DAMN! YOU’D THINK WE WERE 2-11! UNBELIEVABLE!
John
December 11th, 2012
12:41 am
Does anyone REALLY believe this team can win a playoff game? There is NO running game and teams have learned how to cover the pass offense. Falcons have had perhaps the weakness schedule in the league. Here is comes again, they are toast in the first round.
As a season ticket holder, this story is getting very old. A coaching change at the top is the beginning.
Then again, we are being asked to pay for seat licenses. That is when my interest is done.
IlliniDawg
December 11th, 2012
3:46 am
These grades are re****ed. You can’t give every element of the team an F. Especially when we actually played okay in the second half. Also, as a professor who gives out grades regularly, when yu give everyone and F, you lose the significance of signaling to the really poor performers just how bad they were. I.e., if you give every aspect of the team an F, then you cannot specifically draw attention to the defensive line play which was atrocious – moreso than the Ryan and the receivers.
Essentially, your grades come off as a stupid little schoolboy rant, with little meaning. But that is par for the course with this column.
IlliniDawg
December 11th, 2012
3:47 am
Sorry for the couple of spelling errors. It’s late and my contacts are blurry.
jerry
December 11th, 2012
5:07 am
For the ability to display desperation, agony, tautness, tenseness, insecutity, and the complete opposite of Tom Brady in a facial expression, I give Matt Ryan an A++++++.
jerry
December 11th, 2012
5:09 am
insecutity??????????? what’s that? ha ha
Bills fan
December 11th, 2012
5:13 am
Kudos, Mr. L., for telling it like it is.
My only objection would be that one guy who always comes to play is Tony G. If we had 53 of him we’d be in SB every year.
LDawg
December 11th, 2012
5:14 am
It sounds a little more like DLed is pouting. We lost. Big deal. Carolina had nothing to lose and were cheesed the last time we played. That is a big motivator. ATL defense couldn’t get them off the field in the first half – so no chance for the offense. Of course, it looked as if Mularkey was still calling the plays. (No, anything but that!!!) Maybe they were trying to see if they could actually come back from a deficit that big, like last time. (The answer is no.) Ice threw for 342 yards in ONE HALF. (And I do think we were robbed of a 2-point conversion.) Things started clicking once we went to no-huddle. Should use that all the time.
Of course, if we play like this against NYG, they will eat us alive – worse than Seattle did to AZ.
Rodster
December 11th, 2012
8:20 am
A little harsh on the defense. The offense gave them no help in the first half. I put this loss squarely on the offense. Turner is done. Get rid of him and his salary and get a young back. Running backs are a commodity in the NFL unless your name is Adrian Peterson. The defense was constantly on the field and got the crap pounded out of them. With consecutive 3 and outs from the offense I don’t expect any defense to hold up for an entire half without giving up some points.
@urethrafranklyn
December 11th, 2012
10:16 am
I agree with all of the grades except QB, WRs and special teams. Not sure how the WRs and special teams can get less than a B or B-.
Ryan I’d give a C- since he threw for a lot of yards and charged us back in the second half, but when the offense ultimately fails he must bear the responsibility. He also often showed some alarming and uncharacteristic lack of poise.
North FLA Falcon
December 11th, 2012
10:29 am
The playoffs begin on Sunday. If we care — if we can make plays — if we really want this — we can make a statement win vs the Giants. If not — we will back into the playoffs and risk an away game in the first round!
coleski
December 11th, 2012
10:58 am
Is there any grade lower than an F? But kicking coming Sunday. Is ther any way the Falcons can
forfeit a playoff game? They will just be shamed more than what has already transpired. THis Falcons
team is just like so many more have been. They will make you ashamed of their play. Does anyone
anywhere know anyone that might make a change in this franchise? Its the same old thing over and
over and over again. They’ll tease you enough until you think, well they’re finally going to have a decent team. But then they revert to their old ways.
rhettt
December 11th, 2012
12:09 pm
Before we shut down the Falcons after 13 games, please note the 1967 Green Bay Packers. Their season record was 9-4-1. Then the playoffs started. They won the “ice bowl” against the Dallas Cowboys and went on to win the Super Bowl that year, fairly easily. I would rather the coaches not show all the arsenal on offense nor defense until the playoffs. And then open the playbook to their strengths. Who wins each division each year is almost of no benefit if the playbook had to be opened to achieve that status. Run enough of the playbook to win and stay competitive and when the playoffs begin there are plays the opposition have not practiced against. I think it’s wonderful the Falons are 11-2 and have enough sense to maintain being competitive yet not give away the key to the vault.
1 and done
December 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
You might as well get ready for 3-4 picks from Matt Pick6 Ryan.
Matt
December 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
we’re 11-2. That was a bad loss. Let’s put this behind us and move on. Are a lot of you guys even Falcons fans?! Let’s get behind this team and cheer for them win or lose. Every team in the league has problems.
Once Recent Reader
December 11th, 2012
10:42 pm
D-Led. I questioned the QB F last week. Even with “better numbers” this week, I’m ALL for the Fs across the board even if they performed better in the 2nd half. As with last week I thought the F was more of a statement grade. Well this week I think your Fs are again a statement grade – BUT it’s a very good Statement!
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BirdLover
December 12th, 2012
1:42 am
Ryan gets 3 F’s– get him either outta here, some steroids, or give him a clipboard
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Mikey
December 12th, 2012
8:48 am
This game stunk and the grades are appropriate. I hope it serves as a wakeup call to all our Falcons. This was a real team loss and the level of competition was well below what we have come to expect from this organization. There is still a month to learn and prepare for the playoffs. I anticipate that our Falcons will take advantage of that to continue their imrovement and be fully prepared to contend come playoff time. We need one more win and lots of excellence all around! GO FALCONS! YOU CAN RISE UP!
doghgoneit
December 12th, 2012
11:30 am
We’re in the playoffs! I don’t care how many games they lose before the first round. THERE IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!
PlanB
December 12th, 2012
1:13 pm
The panthers have alot of talent and were given a reason to play harder due to statements made. People try harder when motivated. A good team whipped us. We beat them with less than a minute to go with a 59 yard pass last time. We’re 11-2. Yes, these things happen but some of you want to look at W’s & L’s and say nothing about weaknesses that we need to fix. We have some weak players in some positions. Even with no injuries we have some weak players. We are also making coaching mistakes. Many of us see that and even if we are 13-0 we will still discuss what we think it takes to make this team better. It doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the progress we have made. It’s just that when you get there don’t settle for just that. Try to make it better. We had a good start then things slowed down. Almost like back to last year. I have to ask, has MS taken the reigns back???
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Charleston Jacket
December 12th, 2012
7:03 pm
championship caliber teams don’t let teams with a 3-9 record whip them up and down the field. Don’t see this team mentally tough enough to go very far in the playoffs. As much as I detest T Brady and NE, they looked like champions against Houston and played like champions. Folks we have a ways to go before we can compete consistently at the top level. We lack the warrior heart – not sure this is something this team will grow into anytime soon.
Alan H
December 12th, 2012
10:35 pm
The Falcons have just had a stretch where they have defined SNAFU. PLEASE CUT THAT OUT AND RISE UP.
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